Life is broadly improving in most major cities, according to the latest Global Liveability Index, which has just recorded its highest average score for 15 years.
Once again, Vienna topped the index, with Copenhagen, Melbourne and Sydney coming in second, third and fourth respectively.
Assessing cities for liveability is not an easy task, but it's one the Economist Intelligence Unit undertakes each year. It assesses 172 cities across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
“Vienna continues to offer an unsurpassed combination of stability, good infrastructure, strong education and healthcare services, and plenty of culture and entertainment, with one of its few downsides being a relative lack of major sporting events,” said the EIU. “The same is true of Copenhagen, another frequent high performer that has kept its position in second place.”
The fact that 2023 provides the highest average score for over a decade is definitely cause of optimism. Even at the bottom of the rankings, cities such as Lagos and Algiers (equally placed at 170) gained ground, with some improvements noted in their healthcare and education systems.
The EIU does not take the cost of living into account when compiling the Global Liveability Index. The organisation has a separate ranking for that: the Worldwide Cost of Living report. Spoiler alert: Singapore, New York and Tel Aviv - in that order - are the world's most expensive cities.
If you want to get a full listing of the world's most liveable cities, you can download a free report here. But, if you're happy with just knowing the top 10 according to the EIU, here they are:
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Sydney, Australia
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Zurich, Switzerland
7. Calgary, Canada = Geneva, Switzerland
9. Toronto, Canada
10. Osaka, Japan = Auckland, New Zealand